SDHC substitute for SxS cards

John Woo · September 24th, 2008, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven Thomas

It's possible - but, you would have to send your camera in to have the software upgraded
which I would not.

They will not tell you they block it until you have upgraded to the new firmware. I hope Sony will not choose this path.

Ola Christoffersson · September 24th, 2008, 01:33 PM

Just an update concerning my testing of the Sandisk/Kensington combo.

I have now spent almost a whole workday. Recording, deleting, recording etc etc...trying to get the combo to fail. I have made recordings that fill the 8 GB card and I have made several shorter recordings, deleted every second clip to achieve fragmentation, and then filling up the card with video.
Still not even an error message telling me to restore media! Also - the camera performs and behaves just like I am used to with SxS-memory. No delays or lags. It feels rock solid!

I only hope it will stay this way AND that somebody finds an adaptor that fits behind the door.

Here are some numbers that might be of interest:

Transfering a full 8 GB card via camera USB to harddrive - 16 minutes.
Transfering a full 8 GB card to laptop using the Kensington adapter - 7:22 min
Transfereing a full 8 GB card to the same laptop using it's built in SD-reader - 8:41 min
Transfering 8 GB of media from laptop to card using Kensington adapter 14:17 min

The first number suggests to me that the cameras USB interface is not very fast. Or maybe it has to share the bandwith somehow with the USB-port on the camera, resulting in half speed.

The last one is encouraging as it suggests an overhead of almost 100% in write speed in relation to what is needed for recording (one card can take 28 minutes of HQ video).

Finally - Steven - have you recieved your 16 GB card yet? Is it performing as well as the 8 GB card?

Steven Thomas · September 24th, 2008, 02:32 PM

Thanks Ola,
I have not received my 16GB Sandisk Ultra II 15MB/s SDHC card.
Althought I do have the 16GB Sandisk Exteme III 30MB/s SDHC which works well with the Kensington 7-in-1 expresscard reader in the EX1.

I'm willing to bet both the 16GB and 32GB SanDisk Ultra II 15MB/s SDHC will work fine.

Erik Phairas · September 24th, 2008, 08:11 PM

nice! I will be ordering my EX3 friday morning (and breaking the bank to do it). You guys just made my year. No need to buy SxS card until the price drops. I'll have 2 8gb sxs cards anyway.

I feel a lot better about buying this camera all the sudden.

Steven Thomas · September 24th, 2008, 08:19 PM

Yes, use the SxS for S&Q modes.

Ola Christoffersson · September 25th, 2008, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven Thomas

Thanks Ola,
I have not received my 16GB Sandisk Ultra II 15MB/s SDHC card.
Althought I do have the 16GB Sandisk Exteme III 30MB/s SDHC which works well with the Kensington 7-in-1 expresscard reader in the EX1.

I'm willing to bet both the 16GB and 32GB SanDisk Ultra II 15MB/s SDHC will work fine.

Steven!

May I ask why you are risking it with a slower 16 GB card when the Extreme III is so cheap? Also - does the 16 GB Extreme III measure as fast as the 8 GB using your speed test software?

Steven Thomas · September 25th, 2008, 05:54 AM

Based on my tests, the Extreme III and Ultra II will perform the same with the Kensington 7-in-1 in the EX1.

The 8GB and 16GB Extreme III should perform the same in the EX1/with Kensington.

Ola Christoffersson · September 25th, 2008, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven Thomas

Based on my tests, the Extreme III and Ultra II will perform the same with the Kensington 7-in-1 in the EX1.

The 8GB and 16GB Extreme III should perform the same in the EX1/with Kensington.

Hm - so why not use the much cheaper Transend cards instead? Don't you trust them? (Sorry to bug you but I'm trying to make up my mind on what to buy)

Steven Thomas · September 25th, 2008, 06:32 AM

The SanDisk 16GB Ultra II is only $60. Yes the Transcend is less, but $60 for 16GB for reliable memory sounds good to me.

There was one report where the Transcend SDHC card was defective on first try.

I have not looked close at the data rate tests for the transcend, buy the Sandisk data is very repeatable.

Brian Rhodes · September 25th, 2008, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven Thomas

The SanDisk 16GB Ultra II is only $60. Yes the Transcend is less, but $60 for 16GB for reliable memory sounds good to me.

There was one report where the Transcend SDHC card was defective on first try.

I have not looked close at the data rate tests for the transcend, buy the Sandisk data is very repeatable.

I have 4 of the Transend 8bg cards no errors so far $18.99, I think the 16 gb cards are slower. I have 4 SanDisk 32GB Ultra II on order.

Ola Christoffersson · September 25th, 2008, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Rhodes

I have 4 of the Transend 8bg cards no errors so far $18.99, I think the 16 gb cards are slower. I have 4 SanDisk 32GB Ultra II on order.

I am looking forward to hearing about your results with these cards. This truly is a revolution.
Might I make a suggestion? Since all cards, more or less, are on paper fast enough I think that the overcrank test that Steven suggests is the best way to judge how much headroom the card has when actually recording HQ-video in the camera.

Why don't we make a list of all of these cards (Sandisk Exterme, Ultra, Transend 8,16,32 Gb) according to achieved S&Q fps?

That would be invaluable information for anyone looking into buying SD-cards for their EX1/EX3.

Paul Kellett · September 25th, 2008, 07:40 AM

I know people don't like buying memory off ebay, due to the amount of fakes, however, i just found an ebay shop which happened to be 1 mile from my house so i went to the shop and bought the transcend 8gb class 6 cards, £20 each,they work, they're genuine.
They've got loads in stock.
Also sdhc to usb readers for £5, instock.
Also sxs cards there for £80ish for 32gb, transcend.

So if anybody wants the details of this supplier then pm me and i'll give you the details, i won't post the details because they're not sponsors.

I'm not in any way connected to this shop, they're just genuinly down to earth people who helped me out letting me test cards in the shop, so i thought i'd return a favour.
They take paypal and post next day.

Paul.

Ned Soltz · September 25th, 2008, 07:54 AM

To repeat my findings so far in EX-3, I am working perfectly in SQ and HQ modes with Kensington reader + Transcend 8gb and SanDisk Extreme III 16gb. My next test will be to pick up a SanDisk Ultra II 32gb.

While I honestly have not shot any under/overcranking since starting to test the SD cards, my plan generally will be to keep one SxS card in the camera and one SD card.

Erik Phairas · September 25th, 2008, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ned Soltz

My next test will be to pick up a SanDisk Ultra II 32gb.

that's the test I want to see. :)

Steven Thomas · September 25th, 2008, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Rhodes

I have 4 SanDisk 32GB Ultra II on order.

Brian, based on the smaller Ultra II that has been tested, these should work fine.

But, I hope they offer a return if they do not work..

Honestly, again based on their smaller Ultra II SDHC cards, the 32GB cards should work the same. Ultra II claims 15MB/s data rate.

I'll be ordering a 32GB Ultra II soon.

September 25th, 2008, 07:40 AM	#267
Paul Kellett Trustee Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bristol UK Posts: 1,273	Transcend 8GB in Bristol,uk. Genuine items. I know people don't like buying memory off ebay, due to the amount of fakes, however, i just found an ebay shop which happened to be 1 mile from my house so i went to the shop and bought the transcend 8gb class 6 cards, £20 each,they work, they're genuine. They've got loads in stock. Also sdhc to usb readers for £5, instock. Also sxs cards there for £80ish for 32gb, transcend. So if anybody wants the details of this supplier then pm me and i'll give you the details, i won't post the details because they're not sponsors. I'm not in any way connected to this shop, they're just genuinly down to earth people who helped me out letting me test cards in the shop, so i thought i'd return a favour. They take paypal and post next day. Paul. __________________ Round 2 GH5,FZ2000

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September 24th, 2008, 01:33 PM	#257
Ola Christoffersson Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 462	Just an update concerning my testing of the Sandisk/Kensington combo. I have now spent almost a whole workday. Recording, deleting, recording etc etc...trying to get the combo to fail. I have made recordings that fill the 8 GB card and I have made several shorter recordings, deleted every second clip to achieve fragmentation, and then filling up the card with video. Still not even an error message telling me to restore media! Also - the camera performs and behaves just like I am used to with SxS-memory. No delays or lags. It feels rock solid! I only hope it will stay this way AND that somebody finds an adaptor that fits behind the door. Here are some numbers that might be of interest: Transfering a full 8 GB card via camera USB to harddrive - 16 minutes. Transfering a full 8 GB card to laptop using the Kensington adapter - 7:22 min Transfereing a full 8 GB card to the same laptop using it's built in SD-reader - 8:41 min Transfering 8 GB of media from laptop to card using Kensington adapter 14:17 min The first number suggests to me that the cameras USB interface is not very fast. Or maybe it has to share the bandwith somehow with the USB-port on the camera, resulting in half speed. The last one is encouraging as it suggests an overhead of almost 100% in write speed in relation to what is needed for recording (one card can take 28 minutes of HQ video). Finally - Steven - have you recieved your 16 GB card yet? Is it performing as well as the 8 GB card?

September 24th, 2008, 02:32 PM	#258
Steven Thomas Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 1,896	Thanks Ola, I have not received my 16GB Sandisk Ultra II 15MB/s SDHC card. Althought I do have the 16GB Sandisk Exteme III 30MB/s SDHC which works well with the Kensington 7-in-1 expresscard reader in the EX1. I'm willing to bet both the 16GB and 32GB SanDisk Ultra II 15MB/s SDHC will work fine.

September 24th, 2008, 08:11 PM	#259
Erik Phairas Major Player Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 628	nice! I will be ordering my EX3 friday morning (and breaking the bank to do it). You guys just made my year. No need to buy SxS card until the price drops. I'll have 2 8gb sxs cards anyway. I feel a lot better about buying this camera all the sudden.

September 24th, 2008, 08:19 PM	#260
Steven Thomas Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 1,896	Yes, use the SxS for S&Q modes.

September 25th, 2008, 05:54 AM	#262
Steven Thomas Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 1,896	Based on my tests, the Extreme III and Ultra II will perform the same with the Kensington 7-in-1 in the EX1. The 8GB and 16GB Extreme III should perform the same in the EX1/with Kensington.

September 25th, 2008, 06:32 AM	#264
Steven Thomas Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 1,896	The SanDisk 16GB Ultra II is only $60. Yes the Transcend is less, but $60 for 16GB for reliable memory sounds good to me. There was one report where the Transcend SDHC card was defective on first try. I have not looked close at the data rate tests for the transcend, buy the Sandisk data is very repeatable.

September 25th, 2008, 07:54 AM	#268
Ned Soltz Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Teaneck, NJ Posts: 659	To repeat my findings so far in EX-3, I am working perfectly in SQ and HQ modes with Kensington reader + Transcend 8gb and SanDisk Extreme III 16gb. My next test will be to pick up a SanDisk Ultra II 32gb. While I honestly have not shot any under/overcranking since starting to test the SD cards, my plan generally will be to keep one SxS card in the camera and one SD card.